2013 Triumph Tiger Explorer XC

Jeff Pamer: The Tiger moniker has been used by Triumph for a very long time, and its history is a bit convoluted. The vast differences in bikes that have held the Tiger name make it a hard line to follow. Not only is the current Tiger vastly different from the original bike that held the name in in 1936, the Tiger 80, but even the most recent incarnation is very different from the current. A notable turn in the Tiger’s long history is the Tiger Trail, produced in the early 80s, which was an early dual sport bike based on the T140V Bonneville platform.

For the most recent incarnation, Triumph smartly capitalized on the growing adventure bike market. The Tiger is powered by a 1,215cc inline three engine producing a claimed 135 horsepower and 89 ft-lbs of torque. There are two lines of the Tiger, the XR and XC. The XR is a more road focused set up with cast aluminum wheels and suspension set up for road use, while the XC line has a more off-road focus with spoked wheels, beefed up engine guards and more suspension travel. I remember seeing the new Tiger for the first time in 2012 and was really enticed. At the time I owned a T100 Bonneville and leaned heavily into that style of bike. The Tiger sparked a change in me. I loved it. Like hearing Johnny Cash for the first time, changing my tastes in music forever, my eyes were opened to new style of bikes.

This 2013 Tiger Explorer is a great example and well equipped. It has 12,980 miles on the clock, which for this bike is barely broken in, and the OEM top boxes will ensure that you’ve got plenty of luggage space for your next long road trip. Although it may be entirely subjective, this bike is also in the best color combo of black and dark green.

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